Transition device for car couplers



R. J. WITTMER TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed Jan. 22, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNY R. J. WITTMER TRAfiSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed Jan. 22, 1924 6 $heets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M m m Dec. 13, 1927.

R. J. WITTMER TRANSITION DEVICE FDR CAR COUPLERS Eil'ed Janv 22, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTO R. J. WITTMER TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Dec. 13, 1927.

Filed Jan. 22, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVEN TOR ATliNEY R. J. WITTMER TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Dec. 13, 1927.

Filed Jan. 22, 1924 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 5' INVENTOR own, 1927.

R. J. WITTMER TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Fil J n- '22. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES,

1,652,263 PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL J. WITTMER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL MALLEABLE AND STEELCASTINGS COMPANY, CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS.

Application filed January 22, 1924. Serial No. 687,673.

is a similar View to Fig. 1 but with the transition coupling in'an intermediate position coupled with a hook coupling and ready to be locked by the lock of the automatic coupler; Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but with'the coupling completed and under draft; Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 but with the bufiers fully compressed; Figs. 7 8,

9 and 10 show a modified form of transition] device, Fig. 7 being a side elevation of the automatic coupling with the transition device attached thereto by connecting members at top and bottom of the coupler head, Fig.

8 being a side elevation of the transition member, Fig. 9 a top plan ofthe upper connecting member, Fig. 10 a top plan of the lower connecting member, and Fig. 11 a top plan of the modified pin.

My invention relates to transitional coupling mechanism and is particularly designed to provide means for permitting cars equipped with automatic couplers to be coupled with cars equipped with couplers of other types, such as of the draw-hook and side bufier types. To this end I have provided a transitional or supplemental cou pling device which can be carried by the automatic coupler and may be easily swung into and out of operative position so that the coupler may be ready for coupling with an automatic coupler of the same type, or with a draw-hook arangement, or other form of coupler. 1

My improved mechanismis arranged to be supported by the coupler head at all times. When not in use it is carried at one side of the coupler head. When in use it is swung between the jaws of the coupler head and. is there connected with a coupler of the drawhook type by a device such as a coupling link. My invention also consists in the various features which I shall hereinafter de scribe and claim.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a coupler of the rigidjaw type shown in the United States Letters Patent of John W'illison No. 1,201,665, dated October 17, 1916, hav ngjaws 3 and 4: and a lock 5 normally projecting forward of the intermediate buffng face 6 of the car coupler. The lock 5 is adapted to be retracted into and projected from a cavity 7 in the coupler head.

The transition coupling mechanism is comprised of a draft member 8, which has an upward extension 9 by which it is sup? ported by a connection 11, preferably a slotted, from a carrier casting 10. The pulling jaw 3'of the coupler has a vertical hole 12 for reception of a pin 13 upon which the carrier casting 10 is supported for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane. Mounted in a vertically extending aperture 14 in the forward face of the draft member 8 (when the draft member is in operative position) is a horizontally extending attachment pin 15 on which is hung an intermediate link 16. This intermediate link 16 carries a coupling link 17 by which the transitional coupling may be attached to the coupling 21 of a different type. To hold the transitional couplingmechanism in inoperative position, the

carrier casting 10 has extending outwardly. [from its hub a cam projection 18 which cooperates with the cam face 19 on the inner side of the hole 12 through the pulling jaw 3.

I have shown my invention applied to a coupler on cars equipped with buifersQO and with the opposing car equiped with a coupler 21 of the draw-hook type. In Fig. 1 my transition mechanism is shown in inoperative position, in which it is retained by. the projection 18 on the carrier casting 10, as the weight of the transition coupling will prevent the projection 18 from riding up the steep forward incline of the cam surface 19. When it is desired to couple the coupler 2 to a draw-hook such as the draw-hook 21,

23 of the jaw 3, and the opposite face 24: of the draft member bears against the side face 25 of the lock 5. Also, in such position the draft member 8 has slid to the inner side of the elongated slot 11, in which it is supported in the carrier 10. The elongation of the slot 11 is here necessary to permit the draft member 8 to swing around the tip of the pulling jaw 3 of the coupler 2 andithen to slide back into the position shown in Fig. 5. In the position shown in F ig. 5, the

. slack shown in Fig. 4-. to permit the passing of the outer link 17 over the draw-hook 21 has been to a large extent taken up.

When, as is shown in Fig. 6, the cars are buff-ed together-with sufficient force: to compress the buffers 20 completely, the two links 16 and 1'? swing down out of the way and the buffing shock is taken up directly by the buffers 20 without injury to the draw-hook '21 or the transition mechanism.

l/Vhen the transition coupling is in operative position, as is shown in Figs-5 and 6,

the horizontal flange 27 on the draftmemher 8 engages the upperedge of the jaw 3 of the coupler, thereby relieving the carrier 10 of the weight of the transitional mechanism.

In uncoupling, the lock 5 is raised, which allows the draft member 8 to swing out-to the positionshown in Fig. 4. The link 17 may then be disengaged from the draw-hook 21 and the transitional coupling is then swung around to the position shown in Fig.

I 1, the projection 18 riding up the rear surpin. 32. The upper carrier has, a flat bear face of the cam '19 and dropping down its steep forward incline, thus locking the transitional coupling in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1. If it is desired to re move the transitional member, this may be done by merely taking out the pin 13, which permits the transition coupling to be taken ofLthe automatic coupler 2.

In Figs. 7, 3, 9, 10 and 11 I have shown a modified form. of my invention, in which the draft member 28 has extensions 29 -at both .its top and bottom supported from the carrier castings 30 and 31, which are secured to the pulling jaw 3 of the coupler head by the ing 33 against the flattened portion 34: of the head of the pin 32, and the lower carrier has a small pin 35 extending. horizon-tally through carrier 31 and pin 32, so that both of the carriers 30 and .31 turn with the'ping 32. The use of a support at both the top and bottom of the draft member permits the draftmember to be used for direct emergency pulling under extreme conditions of track curvature, which would prevent the member 8 from being swung between the jaws and locked therein.

- My improved transitional mechanism provides an extremely simple and economical arrangement for transition service, which may be readily applied to. couplers of exist-.

7 ferent type.

,with acoupler having a reciprocating lock,

of a supplemental coupling member pivoted to the eouplerand arranged to berotated therein in a horizontal plane'into operative and inoperative positions, the'said member when under draft being arranged to transmit draftthrough, and engaging fixed portions of the coupler and being engaged directly by said lock, said member carrying means for couplingwitha coupler of a dif ferent type and adapted when in inoperative position to leave said coupler free to couple with another coupler ofhke type.

2. In cou ler mechanism the combination -with acoupler having a reciprocating look,

of a supplemental coupling member supported on a pin mounted on a jawof said coupler and adapted to be rotated thereabout in a horizontal plane into and out ofoperative position, the said member when under draft being arranged to transmit draft ,directlythrough and engaging fixed portions of said coupler other than thepoiftions engaged by the pin and being directly engaged by said lock, said draft member carrymgmeans for. coupling with a coupler of a dif- 3. In coupler mechanism, the combination into and out of operative position in a:hori- .zontal plane to engage a pulling surface on the coupler head, the said memberbeing held in operative position and in engagement with the pulling surface on the coupler head by direct contact with the lockof the coupler.

l. In coupler mechanism, the combination with .a,coupler of a supplementalcoupling member,- said supplemental coupling member havingan arm pivoted to the coupler head upon which the member moves into and out of operative position in a horizontal plane and into and out of engagement with a pulling surface on the coupler head, the said member when under draft being arranged to transmit draft through said pulling surface of said coupler, said supplemental coupling member having also a lateral ex- =tens1on which engages the coupler head and with a coupler of a supplemental coupling by which it is supported when in operative position.

5. In coupler mechanism, the combination With a coupler having a reciprocating lock, of a supplemental coupling member pivoted to the coupler and arranged to be rotated therein into operative and-inoperative positions, the said member Whenunder draft being arranged to transmit draft through and engaging fixed portions of the coupler and being engaged directly by said lock, said member carrying an intermediate coupling member mounted for free movement in a vertical plane for coupling With a coupler of a different type.

6. In coupler mechanism, the combination with a coupler having a reciprocating lock, of an intermediate coupling member for coupling to a coupler of a different type; a supplemental coupling member on which the intermediate member is mounted; the supplemental coupling member being pivoted to the coupler and being capable of rotation about the coupler head to permit the intermediate member to be coupled With a coupler of a different type, and of further rotation 7. In coupler mechanism, the combination with a coupler having a reciprocating lock of, a supplemental coupling member pivoted to the coupler and arranged to be rotated therein into operative and inoperative positions: the said member When under draft being arranged to transmit draft through and engaging fixed portions of the coupler and being engaged directly by said lock, said member carrying an intermediate coupling member for coupling With a coupler of a different type, the movement of the supplement-al member into engagement With the lock and fixed portions of the coupler comprising means for taking ,upthe slack in the intermediate member after coupling With a coupler of a dilferent type. V

RUSSELL J. WITTMER. 

